James Martin Kinsey

James M. Kinsey, 93, of Ft. Wayne, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, a brother, Larry, 7 children, Brad (Chris) Kinsey, Stan (Lori) Kinsey, Pam Kinsey (Greg) Lungmus, Dan (Mary) Kinsey, Kelly Kinsey (Chuck) McPheeters, Chris (Pam) Stier and Cary (Sheila) Stier, 23 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

He was born in Clare County, MI, on December 2, 1929, spent his childhood in St. Joe, IN, and enlisted in the Navy in 1947 after graduating high school. He worked in sales with Jewel Foods and the Carnation Company before forming the Kinsey Food Brokerage Company in the ‘60s. He subsequently merged the company with UBC Marketing of Grand Rapids, and ultimately became CEO of UBC Marketing before retiring. Never one to slow down, in retirement he invented and patented a unique golf putter cover which for 23 years he sold online and through national retailers under the name “PutterTuck”.

Jim was a life-long member of the United Methodist church. He taught Sunday school for many years and was active with the Methodist youth fellowship, providing meals as a cook for the youth group during their summer camp time at the Epworth Forest Lodge at Lake Webster. He joined his son, Dan, and three grandsons on several church mission trips, working as the site supervisor.

He was a good athlete, traveling with service teams playing both basketball and baseball while in the Navy, and once being named MVP in the old Ft. Wayne City Basketball League. Later in life he was an avid golfer, winning two Ft. Wayne City Senior Golf Championships, and “shooting his age” or better over 300 times.

He was always active with his children and grandchildren, teaching Sunday school, coaching little league baseball, building playhouses, attending their sporting events through high school, and driving the boat while they water skied at the lake house. He had real construction, mechanical, and electrical talents, and loved nothing more than helping his children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends with whatever projects required his expertise, or just a strong pair of hands. Loving and loved are words that describe him well.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Mary Kinsey, his brothers Donald and Robert, and his sister, Opal.

There will be visitation at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Home, 1320 E. DuPont Road, Ft. Wayne, from 3:00 until 5:00 on Friday March 3, and a memorial service will be held at Bethel Ministries of Ft. Wayne, 8405 Lima Road, Ft. Wayne, at 10:30 on Saturday, March 4 with burial immediately following the service in Catholic Cemetery of Fort Wayne.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Stillwater Hospice, 5910 Homestead Rd, Ft. Wayne, IN 46814, or Bethel Ministries of Ft. Wayne, 8405 Lima Road, Ft. Wayne, IN 46818, or a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.mccombandsons.com for the Kinsey family.